Sialkot is one of the major industrial cities in Punjab. The rapid industrialization and rising population of Sialkot has caused threats to the environment. Poisonous industrial and non-industrial waste is a real danger to the environment and management of the environment is deteriorating.
Leather Sector is one of the top most Foreign Exchange earning Industry of Pakistan. Besides it is source of employment and it is important that the Leather Industry may be developed on Modern Lines so as to multiply foreign Exchange Earnings as well as employment generation through improving production practices and environmental as well as quality concerns.
Currently around 250 tanneries are located in 10 different clusters, scattered all around Sialkot and suburbs. These scattered tanneries are unable to meet the international standards which are becoming more and more stringent with the passage time. Meeting the international standards needs proper infrastructure which is not possible to be extended to each tannery in scattered locations all around the city. The foremost and critical requirement for international trade and exporting leather goods is the environmental and social compliance. The buyers anywhere in the world are now obligated by their own country's legislation to import goods from those manufacturers who possess internationally accredited certifications.
To achieve the above mentioned objectives, The Sialkot Tannery Association (Guarantee) Limited (STAGL) an offshoot of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established under the Company’s Act 1984 on 24/06/2004 for the purpose of establishing and maintaining the Sialkot Tannery Zone in order to resolve the environmental problems.
The project with the assistance from Government of Punjab will help in shifting the existing 230-250 tanneries scattered in ten (10) clusters in Sialkot city to a dedicated Tannery Zone in Khambranwala where around 396 Acres land has been purchased for the purpose in order to provide following modern facilities so is to unable the tanners to produce International Standard Leather and Leather Products.
